Regardless of the course, students are bombarded with a plethora of tasks that must be completed at an expected span of time. However, many struggle to organize their time, often leading to a trail of trouble. Time management is an excellent practice that instills discipline and can prove to be beneficial in their later careers.
Below are some tips that can help students learn to better manage their time.
- Calendars are our friends
School years are long and filled with a number of activities sandwiched between regular class time and exams, not to mention the occasional holidays. This gives students an advantage as they can prepare to tackle each event.
Physical calendars can act as a checklist of the things needed to be done while the calendars on mobile devices and laptops can serve as reminders and even alarms. With color coding, students can identify which tasks or assignments ought to be prioritized or prepared for.
- Make a daily to-do list
Lists can help organize thoughts and give students an idea of what to do, especially when a truckload of assignments go their way. They can also be very cathartic after finishing a task, easing the mind of one problem to focus on another.
- Set priorities
With the growing number of tasks that come with each semester and class, setting priorities on the list can help lift the weight off your chest. The most typical example puts the most urgent tasks at the top with the less troubling tasks following behind it.
The A-B-C method is a good way to organize which tasks must be finished as soon as possible and which tasks can be pushed back if necessary.
- Prepare for sudden changes
Having a list gives us an idea of what to do for the day, but there are occasions when one task’s priority becomes urgent. As a result, the list will have to change, depending on the priority of the task. Flexibility is an important key when it comes to time management.
- One step at a time
Although multitasking has become a common practice among students, it can sometimes lead them to crash and burn. The best way to avoid this is to simply take things one step at a time, concentrating all the focus on one task to produce quality results.
- Don’t forget to take a break
Rest is a necessity. Jumping from one task to another in quick succession can be another precursor to burnout. Learn to take small breaks in-between tasks to give your mind some time to relax before setting off on the next task.
